Light-emitting fan

ABSTRACT

A hand-held fan comprising a plurality of blades, each blade coupled to another blade via a joint. The fan further comprises webbing between each of the plurality of blades and a chemi-luminescent module coupled to one of the plurality of blades. The chemi-luminescent module emits light visible through the webbing of the hand-held fan.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the U.S. Provisional Application filed Apr. 18, 2006, titled “Light-Emitting Fan,” given the application No. 60/745,047 and incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Various items are used in night-life activities (e.g., in nightclubs) that enhance the atmosphere for and the enjoyment of participants. These items often serve utilitarian as well as aesthetic purposes. Accordingly, improvements that enhance the utility and aesthetics of such items are desirable.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, there are disclosed herein a hand-held fan containing chemical which emit light through a webbing of the fan. At least some embodiments of the fan comprise a plurality of blades, each blade coupled to another blade via a joint. The fan further comprises webbing between each of the plurality of blades and a chemi-luminescent module coupled to one of the plurality of blades. The chemi-luminescent module emits light visible through the webbing of the hand-held fan.

Another embodiment of the fan comprises a plurality of blades, each blade coupled to at least one other blade. The embodiment further comprises a translucent material coupled to each of the plurality of blades, and a module comprising chemicals which, when mixed and exposed to air, emit light that is visible through the translucent material of the luminescent hand-held fan.

Yet another embodiment of the fan comprises a plurality of blades, at least some of the blades coupled to other blades. The embodiment further comprises means for covering the blades and for passing light, and means for emitting light through the means for covering. The device comprises a hand-held fan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of the fan in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a view of the fan of FIG. 1 in a collapsed position, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a chemi-luminescent module comprising a glass ampoule, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of an outermost blade of the fan of FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the outermost blade of FIG. 3, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 6 shows how various blades of the fan of FIG. 1 are coupled together by way of a pin, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular system components. As on skilled in the art will appreciate, companies may refer to a components by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . .”

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following discussion is directed to various embodiments of the invention. Although one or more of these embodiments may be preferred, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure. In addition, one skilled in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and not intended to intimate that the scope of the disclosure is limited to that embodiment.

There is disclosed herein an illuminated, hand-held fan. Referring to FIG. 1, the fan 10 comprises a plurality of collapsible blades 20 joined at a base by a hinged joint 40. In at least some embodiments, each blade couples at its unhinged end to at least one sheet of material 30 which serves as a webbing for the fan 10. Simultaneously referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the two outermost blades 21 may serve as handles for the fan 10 and allow for the insertion or affixation of one or more chemi-luminescence module(s) 22 to the fan 10.

The collapsible blades 20, 21 are made of a substantially stiff and resilient material, such as plastic or wood. The scope of disclosure is not limited to the use of plastic or wood, however, and other suitable materials also are usable. Each blade 20, 21 couples (e.g., is enclosed) at its unhinged end with the aforementioned sheet material 30 which covers approximately 50% to 80% of the blades' length spanning 180 degrees when all blades 20, 21 are unfolded.

The sheet material 30 preferably comprises any suitable material which permits light to pass through the material. As such, in some embodiments, the sheet material may comprise a transparent material, and in other embodiments, the sheet material may comprise a translucent material. The sheet material 30 optionally may be decorated as desired.

The sheet material 30 may advantageously be creased in increments for repeated folding and unfolding of the handheld fan. The sheet material 30 also may be coated in a photo-luminescent substance that enables the fan 10 to emit light. The sheet material 30 may be coated with a phosphorus substance such as Zinc Sulfide and Strontium Aluminate. This phosphorus substance can absorb energy from being placed in proximity of a lamp or similar light source. In darkened environments, the photo-luminescent coating glows.

As previously mentioned, the two outermost blades 21 may serve as handles for the fan and allow for the insertion or affixation of one or more chemi-luminescent module(s) 22. These modules 22 may be manufactured using clear plastic or similar material composed of a nontoxic chemical solution such as phenyl oxalate ester and colored dye. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, in some embodiments, a small, thin-walled glass ampoule(s) 32 may be contained at the base of the module(s) 22, which houses a solution(s) of hydrogen peroxide dissolve phthalic ester. The chemicals are mixed as the module(s) 22 is slightly bent. The glass ampoule(s) is broken within the module(s) 22, thereby causing a chemical reaction which is observed with the release of visible light.

FIGS. 4-6 show additional embodiments of the invention. Specifically, FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the outermost blade 21 having an attachment apparatus 34 to which a module 22 may be coupled. The apparatus 34, or a variation thereof, may be located on either end of the outermost blade 21. FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the apparatus 34. The apparatus 34 is part of the outermost blade 21 and comprises guides 36, a clip 38 and, in some embodiments a circular aperture 42. The guides 36 and the clip 38 hold the module 22 in place against (e.g., abutting or adjacent to) the outermost blade 21. As shown in FIG. 6, a pin 50 (e.g., composed of metal, plastic, wood) is inserted through the aperture 42. All blades 20 preferably contain similar apertures 42, and the pin 50 is likewise inserted through these apertures. In this way, by inserting the pin 50 through the apertures 42 of the blades 20, 21, a hinged joint 40 is formed that couples together the blades 20, 21.

The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the principles and various embodiments of the present invention. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. 

1. A hand-held fan, comprising: a plurality of blades, each blade coupled to another blade via a joint; webbing between each of said plurality of blades; and a chemi-luminescent module coupled to one of said plurality of blades; wherein said chemi-luminescent module emits light visible through the webbing of said hand-held fan.
 2. The hand-held fan of claim 1, wherein said chemi-luminescent module comprises a glass ampoule containing chemical which, when said ampoule is broken, under go a chemical reaction that results in the emission of light.
 3. The hand-held fan of claim 2, wherein said chemical consist of hydrogen peroxide dissolve phthalic ester.
 4. The hand-held fan of claim 2, wherein said chemicals are mixed only if said chemi-luminescent module is bent.
 5. The hand-held fan of claim 1, wherein said module comprises a material selected from the group consisting of clear plastic and phenyl oxalate ester with colored dye.
 6. The hand-held fan of claim 1, wherein the webbing comprises translucent material.
 7. The hand-held fan of claim 1, wherein the webbing comprises transparent material.
 8. The hand-held fan of claim 1, wherein the webbing is at least partially coated with a photo-luminescent substance that facilitates the emission of light.
 9. The hand-held fan of claim 8, wherein said photo-luminescent substance is selected from the group consisting of Zinc Sulfide and Strontium Aluminate.
 10. The hand-held fan of claim 1, wherein an outermost blade of said plurality of blades comprises an attachment apparatus which holds said chemi-luminescent module in place against the outermost blade.
 11. A luminescent hand-held fan, comprising: a plurality of blades, each blade coupled to at least one other blade; a translucent material coupled to each of said plurality of blades; and a module comprising chemicals which, when mixed and exposed to air, emit light that is visible through said translucent material of the luminescent hand-held fan.
 12. The luminescent hand-held fan of claim 11, wherein said module comprises a glass ampoule containing chemical which, after said ampoule is broken, undergo a chemical reaction that results in the emission of light.
 13. The luminescent hand-held fan of claim 11, wherein said translucent material is at least partially coated with a photo-luminescent substance that facilitates the emission of light through said translucent material.
 14. The luminescent hand-held fan of claim 13, wherein said photo-luminescent substance is selected from the group consisting of Zinc Sulfide and Strontium Aluminate.
 15. A device, comprising: a plurality of blades, at least some of said blades coupled to other blades; means for covering said blades and for passing light; and means for emitting light through said means for covering; where said device comprises a hand-held fan.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein said means for covering comprises a translucent webbing material creased in a substantially regular pattern.
 17. The device of claim 15, wherein said means for emitting light comprises a glass ampoule containing chemicals which, after being mixed, emit light that passes through said means for covering.
 18. The device of claim 15, wherein said means for emitting light comprises a chemical solution consisting of hydrogen peroxide dissolve phthalic ester.
 19. The device of claim 15, wherein the means for covering is at least partially coated with a photo-luminescent substance that causes the means for covering to glow with increased intensity as ambient lighting intensity is reduced. 